After the warm-up, students usually run through the entire parade "sequence," standing still: Drum cadence, roll-off, "Born in the U.S.A.," Drum cadence, roll-off, "Battle Hymn."

Let the parade begin! We wait for our turn in the line up, step on to the street, and away we go.

After the parade, we reload the truck (which follows us in the parade), and then head home.

Competition Performance: Overview

For new band parents and students, here’s a view of what happens at Field Show Competitions. Hopefully you can gain some insight on how important these competitions are and why it’s imperative that students attend the competitions ready to perform – a missing student would create a hole in the routine and could result in reduced scores for the entire LWMB.

The important thing that we stress to the students is to prepare and perform at the highest possible level you can achieve. Do not worry about other schools, we will support the LWMB regardless. Worry about what you can control, and do your best!

Local competitions at public schools are hosted by the Band or Music Boosters organizations at that school. They can earn quite a bit of money to support the music programs by charging admission and selling concessions. Most schools have barbecues going and sell home baked items, as well as a variety of pre-packaged food. The choices are different at each local competition. Please be a courteous guest and support these organizations running the event.

Programs are usually available for purchase. Usually there are photos of the bands and auxiliary as well as the program order. The times listed in the program are very accurate, but can be subject to change.

Competition Performance: General Reminders for Parents

Meals: Unless noted in the itinerary, students will need to bring their own lunch, or spending money, on competition days. Depending on the event, students usually will have a lunch break and a dinner break where they will have an opportunity to eat a healthy meal, relax, and socialize. If your child has a dietary restriction, make sure you report that to us on your "Registration Paperwork," or to the chaperones at the event beforehand ("Dietary Restrictions Form").

Parent Wear: When attending the competitions, always wear your LWMBspirit wearand try to sit as a group. That way, when our band comes out on to the field, they will see a "sea" of LWMB colors cheering for them. Usually parents do try to sit at the 50 yard line, although this can be difficult (all the other bands want to also!). It is so great when the band can say “I saw you guys!"

Parent Expectations: Let’s Stand Up and Cheer! We have a proud heritage at L-W. We are gracious in victory and in defeat. We show respect and admiration to all for a job well done. Please be quiet during the performances. The LWMB has an excellent reputation and we need to continue to lead by example. We do not always understand what the judges see, but always be a good sport. Your child will follow your lead! When traveling and around town, especially when wearing LWMB spirit wear, remember that you are an ambassador of the LWMB!

Seating: The stadium seating, usually, consists of simple metal bleachers without back support. Some people purchase stadium seats that snap onto the bleachers. This provides a layer of insulation between the individual and the cold metal as well as back support. Some people bring a blanket to sit on for insulation.

​Important Notice For Spectators

All of the students performing that day, regardless of school, put in many hours of rehearsal and individual practice to be ready for competitions.As a parent, it is expected that you will support the LWMB, and the other schools performing, while exhibiting respect for those around you.

Behavior that is in poor taste, like: negative comments; swearing; gossiping about other schools; and talking during performances, is disrespectful and not needed at any time. Your poor and selfish choices will damage the reputation of the LWMB, and our own student's experience.

The students notice! Act with good sportsmanship, support all students, cheer on your own child, and have a great time. Please remember that the majority of the audience is parents like you, and the are also their to support their children.

Please act with respect and good manners at all times! Thank you!

Competition Performance: Before We Depart

Regardless of when we perform, we always rehearse during the morning. Competitions are usually held in the afternoon or evening, so we rehearse in the morning.

During the morning rehearsal we warm-up, get focused, and review large sections of the show to make sure the students will be set-up for success at the competition.

Competition Performance: Arrival & Performance

When the Band and Color Guard get to the competition location, the trucks are unloaded and students gather their uniform pieces, instruments and Color Guard equipment. Parent volunteers unload props and other large equipment. WW/Brass, Percussion, and Color Guard proceed to their designated warm up areas, which are usually in separate locations.

The parent volunteers will assist percussion in getting their equipment to their designated warm-up area and to the competition entrance. About 15-30 minutes before performance, the Band and Color Guard come together and get into position. When allowed, they enter the field.

They have a limited amount of time to get onto the field. A combination of students and parent volunteers push the equipment on to the field and get everything in position. The band is announced, the Drum Majors salute, and the performance begins.

The field show must fit within certain time and musical parameters. The judges watch very closely to see if the production is synchronized, in step, consistent, musical, and exciting. The band is evaluated as an ensemble, and at the individual level.

Bands are grouped into classes, usually based on the number of performers in the Band and Color Guard. Groups of similar sizes compete against each other, within their class. There are breaks in the competition between class performances.

Competitions are fairly formal in regards to the audience, similar to a professional orchestra concert. No one in the audience is allowed to be seated (nor should anyone leave) during a band performance, and all audience members should remain quiet during the performance. There are breaks between categories. After a band performs and marches off the field, the kids often change, and sit together to watch other bands.

LWMB students will be put in an assigned area of the stadium (decided on site), where they will remain until the end of the evening. Students are allowed to get something to eat, use the bathroom, chat with friends, etc.

​Important Notice For Spectators

All of the students performing that day, regardless of school, put in many hours of rehearsal and individual practice to be ready for competitions.As a parent, it is expected that you will support the LWMB, and the other schools performing, while exhibiting respect for those around you.

Behavior that is in poor taste, like: negative comments; swearing; gossiping about other schools; and talking during performances, is disrespectful and not needed at any time. Your poor and selfish choices will damage the reputation of the LWMB, and our own student's experience.

The students notice! Act with good sportsmanship, support all students, cheer on your own child, and have a great time. Please remember that the majority of the audience is parents like you, and the are also their to support their children.

Please act with respect and good manners at all times! Thank you!

Competition Performance: "Finals" & Award Ceremonies

Some of the competitions that we will attend have two performance rounds: "Preliminaries," and "Finals." If the LWMB student's performance was successful, as evaluated by the judges, then the students will perform in the "Finals" round against the best bands from the entire slate of participants.

Most competitions give out the all-important awards at one time, although some competitions will have two awards ceremonies depending on how many groups are competing. The Judges’ evaluations are given to the Band Directors after the awards ceremony. The Band Directors go over the scores and comments afterwards – performances have “placed” by percentages of a point – just like the Olympics!

The Award Ceremony is a treat unto itself. The Drum Majors form a semi-circle on the field. Sometimes the performers in the stands start a wave, yell, or group visual of some kind. This quickly becomes a competition of its own. Some bands (like the LWMB) are extremely regimented and do none of this, and may simply stand at attention.

Bands in each class have the opportunity to earn 3rd, 2nd, or 1st place trophies, as well as "Caption" trophies for best performances in a particular area (ex. Visual, Music, General Effect, Percussion, Auxiliary). All are awarded strictly by the judge’s calculations. If our LWMB students are presented an award, we will stand together in gratitude.

When an award is given, the leadership team on the field of the selected school steps forward to get the trophy and usually does some kind of distinguishing choreographed salute before accepting the award.

If the competition does indeed have a "Finals" round, the bands that will perform in "Finals" are announced after the Award Ceremony. If the LWMB students are selected for "Finals," they will return to the busses/trucks to redress in uniform, and prepare for another performance.

Attending the Award ceremony is important – and unless there is a major time lapse between performance and the award ceremony, the LWMB always stays for the whole thing. Parents are encouraged to come and cheer the band on!

Once the Award Ceremony is complete, the students will reload the bus and return home. Keep an eye on your phone for a possible text about our updated arrival time. Please be at the school before the school busses return, keeping the dismissal process efficient.​

​Important Notice For Spectators

All of the students performing that day, regardless of school, put in many hours of rehearsal and individual practice to be ready for competitions.As a parent, it is expected that you will support the LWMB, and the other schools performing, while exhibiting respect for those around you.

Behavior that is in poor taste, like: negative comments; swearing; gossiping about other schools; and talking during performances, is disrespectful and not needed at any time. Your poor and selfish choices will damage the reputation of the LWMB, and our own student's experience.

The students notice! Act with good sportsmanship, support all students, cheer on your own child, and have a great time. Please remember that the majority of the audience is parents like you, and the are also their to support their children.